Soft-sided kettlebells

ABSTRACT

Detailed are exercise devices including soft-sided kettlebells. The devices may be weighted variably yet retain all functionality of existing rigid-sided kettlebells. Nesting of internal components may reduce, if not prevent, relative movement of the components when a kettlebell is in use.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to exercise equipment and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to variable-weight kettlebells with soft sides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commonly-owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0255960 of Kessler discloses exercise devices in the form of kettlebells. As noted in the Kessler application, versions of the kettlebells may comprise “a substantially hollow body and curved handle extending” therefrom. See Kessler, p. 1, ¶0007. A preferred embodiment of the kettlebell is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or other polymers and may include a removable plug allowing “flowable material” to be introduced into the body. By “varying the substance and/or volume of material used to fill the kettlebell,” the weight of the kettlebell can be adjusted. See id., p. 3, ¶¶0039-0040.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0248910 of DiLuglio describes other variable-weight kettlebells. Bodies of these kettlebells “may be made of a generally hard and durable material, such as plastic or steel,” with their lower portions possibly “comprised of a semi-rigid or elastic material.” See DiLuglio, p. 2, ¶0023. A hollow interior portion of the body is lined with a water-impervious coating or has a bladder disposed therein so as to receive “a liquid weight substance, such as water.” A plug may be employed to retain the water within the body. See id, p. 1, ¶0020.

Disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0048362 of Liford, et al., are yet other variable-weight kettlebells. At least some of the kettlebells may include a core section made from metal, ceramics, wood, or certain other rigid materials to which differing numbers of facet plates may be connected. By varying the number of connected facet plates (which are made of material similar to that of the core section), the weight of the kettlebell may be changed. See Liford, p. 3, ¶¶0035-0037; p. 4, ¶0046.

Absent from these applications is any explicit contemplation of soft-sided variable-weight kettlebells. This omission presumably is because rigidity is important conventionally to contain the liquid or other material used to fill hollow bodies of the kettlebells and to maintain the shape of the bodies. However, as rigid materials are heavier than many non-rigid materials, utilizing rigid materials for the body of a kettlebell increases its unfilled (default) weight and volume, which may be undesirable in many circumstances. Rigid-bodied kettlebells also are incapable of cushioning any impact with human flesh.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides exercise devices including soft-sided kettlebells. When not in use, the kettlebells may collapse in at least one dimension into a smaller volume. Notwithstanding their soft, flexible sides, however, the kettlebells may be weighted variably, thus retaining the functionality of existing variable-weight equipment.

At least some versions of the invention may comprise a hollow main body formed of fabric and to which a handle assembly may attach. The handle assembly preferably is made of molded plastic including a handle and a base. The handle itself may be solid or hollow—or in some cases solid in places and hollow in others.

Incorporated into the base of the handle assembly may, if desired, be one or more slots or other openings each designed to receive a strap or other fastener. Advantageously, one strap received by an opening of the base may have both of its ends permanently attached to the body, thus permanently connecting the handle assembly to the body. Likewise advantageously, another strap received by another opening of the base may have only one end permanently affixed to the body, with its other end removably attached thereto. Displacing the removable end of the strap from the body allows movement of the handle assembly relative to the body as, for example, when weights are to be placed in or removed from the body.

Optionally additionally included in kettlebells of the present invention may be any or all of an inner compartment and inner and outer weight vessels. The inner compartment, when present, may be a rigid-walled structure designed to be fitted into the soft-sided body. It thus may prevent collapse of the body when the kettlebell is in use. The inner compartment also may be hollow so as to receive the inner and outer weight vessels. Nesting these components (when present) may beneficially inhibit their relative movements—both from side to side and from top to bottom—when the kettlebell is in use.

Each of the inner and outer weight vessels may be a hollow structure made of soft, flexible fabric. Each likewise may be filled (or partially filled) with material intended to increase its weight, as may be the body. Such weighting material may be any suitable fluid or solid, with preferred materials including (but not limited to) mixtures of sand and iron chips. The outer weight vessel also may be configured so as to receive inner weight vessel when use of both vessels is desired.

It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide exercise equipment at least in the form of kettlebells.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide kettlebells having non-rigid, or soft, sides.

It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide kettlebells that may accept weights of differing amounts notwithstanding their soft sides.

It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide kettlebells whose bodies are made of fabric to which a handle assembly may be attached.

It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide kettlebells in which a handle assembly is permanently attached to a body yet moveable relative thereto.

It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide kettlebells having internal weighting components that may be nested.

It is yet another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide kettlebells whose nested components do not move relative to each other.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the appropriate art with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary kettlebell consistent with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a first elevational view of the kettlebell of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the kettlebell of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a second elevational view of the kettlebell of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the kettlebell of FIG. 1 taken along lines A-A of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Depicted in FIGS. 1-5 is exemplary exercise equipment in the form of kettlebell 10. Kettlebell 10 may be an upstanding object comprising body 14 and handle assembly 18. Body 14 may be a double-walled structure thus forming hollow interior 22 (see FIG. 5) in which any appropriate solid or fluid material (or both) may be placed. Such material, an example of which may be a mixture of sand and iron chips, adds weight to body 14 for purposes of resistive exercise. Body 14 additionally may include central recess 26 extending from its nominally top surface 30 to an area proximate its nominally bottom surface 34.

In presently-preferred versions of kettlebell 10, body 14 is made of fabric and hence is soft sided. It nevertheless may be shaped or configured so that, when kettlebell 10 is placed upright on a flat surface, material within interior 22 will cause bottom surface 34 to be generally flat as well. Kettlebell 10 thus may remain stable when placed on a flat surface notwithstanding its soft-sided nature.

Handle assembly 18, by contrast, advantageously is formed of more rigid material such as molded plastic and includes handle 38 and base 42. Handle 38 itself may be solid or hollow, or in some cases solid in places and hollow in others, although beneficially being lightweight. Handle 38 also may be ribbed or ridged for both added strength and to facilitate its being gripped by a person using kettlebell 10 while exercising.

Ends 46 and 50 of handle 38 may be integrally formed with or appropriately connected (or adhered) to base 42. Base 42 may be generally planar and of size and shape approximating those of top surface 30; it is shown in FIGS. 1-5 as being generally hexagonal. Base 42 need not necessarily be generally planar or sized or shaped in this manner, however.

At least one, and preferably two, openings 54 exist through base 42. As illustrated, openings 54 may be in the form of slots; if two such slots are present, they may be positioned near opposite edges 58A and 58B of base 42. Openings 54 are configured to receive straps 62, two of which (62A and 62B) are depicted in FIG. 3. In some versions of kettlebell 10, strap 62A has a first end 66 permanently attached to body 14 and a second end 70 that is free. First end 66 may be threaded through an opening 54 (e.g. the one near edge 58B) and temporarily attached to second end 70, as by hook-and-loop fasteners, to secure base 42 temporarily to body 14. Disconnecting the hooks and loops and freeing first end 66 allows it to be unthreaded through opening 54, thus permitting access to recess 26.

By contrast, both corresponding ends of strap 62B may be permanently attached to body 14. If strap 62B also is threaded through an opening 54 (e.g. the one near edge 58A), base 42 will be permanently connected (via strap 62B) to body 14. It nevertheless may pivot about an axis approximately coincident with edge 58A when strap 62A is unthreaded (see FIG. 3), hence rendering recess 26 accessible. Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize that strap 62B need not necessarily have both ends permanently attached to body 14; like strap 62A, for example, strap 62B may have only end (or perhaps no end) permanently attached to the body 14.

Illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 are optional inner compartment 74, outer weight vessel 78, and inner weight vessel 82, any or all of which may comprise a variable weighting assembly for kettlebell 10. When present these components may nest within recess 26, inhibiting their moving (either from side to side or from top to bottom) relative to one another or to body 14. Inner compartment 74 is sized and shaped to fit frictionally (or at least reasonably snugly) within recess 26; because it preferably has semi-rigid or rigid walls 86, it may support body 14 and thus prevent the soft body 14 from collapsing when not desired. Inner compartment 74 additionally may have its own central recess 90 into which outer weight vessel 78 may be frictionally fitted at least somewhat, if not completely, snugly.

Outer weight vessel 78 preferably is a fabric vessel whose hollow interior may be filled (completely or partially) with weighting material. For nesting purposes, it too may define a central recess 94 into which inner weight vessel 82 may be frictionally fitted at least somewhat snugly. Inner weight vessel 82 may also be a hollow fabric vessel filled (again completely or partially) with weight-increasing solids or fluids.

Whenever recess 26 is accessible (as shown in FIG. 3), these nested components may be removed from or inserted into the recess 26. FIG. 5 illustrates in cross-section the nested components after having been inserted into recess 26 and base 42 having been closed by threading of strap 62A through an opening 54 and attachment of its ends 66 and 70. Clear from the figure is that little or no space then exists in any of recesses 26, 90, or 94, precluding movement of each of inner compartment 74, outer weight vessel 78, and inner weight vessel either laterally (i.e. from side to side when kettlebell 10 is upright) or from top to bottom within kettlebell 10.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. The contents of the Kessler, DiLuglio, and Liford applications are incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference. 

1. A kettlebell comprising: a. a soft-sided body having a hollow interior region and defining a recess; b. a handle assembly configured for connection to the body in use; c. weighting material positioned in the hollow interior region; and d. a variable weighting assembly configured for placement within the recess so as not to shift position relative to the body in use.
 2. A kettlebell according to claim 1 in which the handle assembly comprises a handle and a base.
 3. A kettlebell according to claim 2 in which the base defines first and second openings.
 4. A kettlebell according to claim 3 further comprising a first strap having first and second ends, the first end connected to the body and the second end configured for connection to the first end after being threaded through the first opening.
 5. A kettlebell according to claim 4 further comprising a second strap threaded through the second opening and having at least one end permanently connected to the body.
 6. A kettlebell according to claim 5 in which the variable weighting assembly comprises an inner compartment having rigid or semi-rigid walls.
 7. A kettlebell according to claim 6 in which the variable weighting assembly further comprises at least one weight vessel.
 8. A kettlebell according to claim 7 in which the body and the at least one weight vessel comprise fabric.
 9. A kettlebell according to claim 8 in which the handle assembly is permanently connected to the body yet moveable relative thereto.
 10. A kettlebell according to claim 9 in which the handle assembly is moveable between a first position in which the base covers the recess and a second position allowing access to the recess.
 11. A kettlebell according to claim 10 in which the weighting material comprises a mixture of sand and iron chips.
 12. A kettlebell according to claim 11 in which the at least one weight vessel is frictionally fitted into the inner compartment.
 13. A kettlebell comprising: a. a body having a hollow interior region and defining a recess; b. a handle assembly configured for connection to the body in use; c. first weighting material positioned in the hollow interior region; and d. a variable weighting assembly configured for placement within the recess, the variable weighting assembly comprising a first component nested within a second component.
 14. A kettlebell according to claim 13 in which the second component has rigid or semi-rigid walls.
 15. A kettlebell according to claim 14 in which the first component is soft-sided.
 16. A kettlebell according to claim 15 in which the variable weighting assembly further comprises a third component nested within the first component.
 17. A kettlebell according to claim 16 in which the third component is soft-sided.
 18. A kettlebell according to claim 17 further comprising second weighting material positioned within the first and third components.
 19. A kettlebell according to claim 18 in which the first and second weighting materials have the same composition.
 20. A exercise device in the form of a kettlebell comprising: a. a soft-sided body having a hollow interior region and defining a recess; b. a handle assembly permanently connected to the body and comprising: i. a handle; and ii. a base defining first and second openings and being moveable between a first position in which it covers the recess and a second position allowing access to the recess; c. a first strap having first and second ends, the first end connected to the body and the second end configured for connection to the first end after being threaded through the first opening; d. a second strap threaded through the second opening and having at least one end permanently connected to the body; e. a variable weighting assembly configured for placement within the recess so as not to shift position relative to the body in use and comprising: i. an inner compartment having rigid or semi-rigid walls; ii. a soft-sided outer weight vessel configured for nesting within the inner compartment; and iii. a soft-sided inner weight vessel configured for nesting within the outer weight vessel; and f. weighting material positioned within the hollow interior region of the body and within the inner and outer weight vessels. 